Related Experiment Video
Updated: Oct 5, 2025
Parallel Measurement of Circadian Clock Gene Expression and Hormone Secretion in Human Primary Cell Cultures
Published on: November 11, 2016
Hijacking time: How Ophiocordyceps fungi could be using ant host clocks to manipulate behavior
Charissa de Bekker1, Biplabendu Das1
1Department of Biology and Genomics and Bioinformatics Cluster, University of Central Florida, Orlando, Florida, USA.
Abstract:
Ophiocordyceps fungi manipulate ant behaviour as a transmission strategy. Conspicuous changes in the daily timing of disease phenotypes suggest that Ophiocordyceps and other manipulators could be hijacking the host clock. We discuss the available data that support the notion that Ophiocordyceps fungi could be hijacking ant host clocks and consider how altering daily behavioural rhythms could benefit the fungal infection cycle. By reviewing time-course transcriptomics data for the parasite and the host, we argue that Ophiocordyceps has a light-entrainable clock that might drive daily expression of candidate manipulation genes. Moreover, ant rhythms are seemingly highly plastic and involved in behavioural division of labour, which could make them susceptible to parasite hijacking. To provisionally test whether the expression of ant behavioural plasticity and rhythmicity genes could be affected by fungal manipulation, we performed a gene co-expression network analysis on ant time-course data and linked it to available behavioural manipulation data. We found that behavioural plasticity genes reside in the same modules as those affected during fungal manipulation. These modules showed significant connectivity with rhythmic gene modules, suggesting that Ophiocordyceps could be indirectly affecting the expression of those genes as well.
Insights
Ophiocordyceps fungi hijack ant host clocks to alter daily behavior for transmission. This parasitic manipulation may target genes controlling ant behavioral plasticity and rhythms.
Area of Science:
- Mycology
- Behavioral Ecology
- Chronobiology
- Insect-Host Interactions
Background:
- Ophiocordyceps fungi are known to manipulate ant behavior, facilitating their transmission.
- Observed changes in the timing of disease symptoms suggest a potential hijacking of the host's internal clock.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the hypothesis that Ophiocordyceps fungi manipulate ant host clocks.
- To explore how altering daily behavioral rhythms benefits the fungal infection cycle.
- To examine the link between fungal manipulation and host genes related to behavioral plasticity and rhythmicity.
Main Methods:
- Review of existing time-course transcriptomics data for both Ophiocordyceps and ant hosts.
- Analysis of gene co-expression networks using ant time-course data.
- Integration of gene expression data with available behavioral manipulation data.
Main Results:
- Evidence suggests Ophiocordyceps possesses a light-entrainable clock that may regulate the expression of manipulation genes.
- Ant behavioral rhythms are plastic and linked to labor division, potentially making them vulnerable to parasitic manipulation.
- Genes associated with behavioral plasticity were found in modules co-expressed with genes affected by fungal manipulation.
- These modules showed significant connectivity with rhythmic gene modules, indicating indirect effects of the fungus.
Conclusions:
- Ophiocordyceps fungi likely hijack ant host clocks to alter daily rhythms and enhance transmission.
- The fungus may indirectly influence the expression of genes related to behavioral plasticity and rhythmicity through clock manipulation.
Related Concept Videos
02:19Circadian Rhythms and Gene Regulation
02:45Biological Clocks and Seasonal Responses
01:28Yeast Signaling